Ink fountain for printing presses



H. J. LUEHRS INK FOUNTAIN FOR PRINTING PRESSES June l, 1948.

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed OCc. 18, 1944 l lllllll l I lllllll l l l l ww ww QN .NN y

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June ,1, 1948. H. J. LUEHRS INK FUNTAIN FOR PRINTING PRESSES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 File'd Oct. 18, 1944 NNI w wm mw Nw x Nm,

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INK FOUNTAIN FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed Oct. 18, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented June l, 1948 INK FOUNTAIN FOR PRINTING PRESSES Hans J. Luehrs, Westerly, R. I., assgnor to C. B. Cottrell & Sons Company, Westerly, R. I., a corporation of Delaware Application October 18, 1944, Serial No. 559,139

(Cl. lOl-364) 20 Claims. 1

The object of my invention is to provide a fountain divider which may be adjusted if desired while the fountain is in operation. A further object is to provide the fountain divider with a two-point mounting on the fountain. A further object is to provide a liner for the divider which will be flexible or elastic, or both, and means-for exerting pressure, such for instance as mechanical or hydraulic pressure, on the liner to ensure a liquid tight joint with a surface contacted thereby. A further object is to provide a pair of dividers which may be adjustably positioned in the fountain to act as end seals therefor, for regulating the effective inking width of the fountain. A further object is to provide novel means for adjusting the divider to its desired position along the fountain.

A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 represents a detail plan View of an ink fountain including my improved fountain divider with means for exerting mechanical pressure on the sealing liner;

Fig. 2 represents a detail vertical section taken inthe plane of the line II--II of Fig. 1, showing the divider in side elevation;

Fig. 3 represents a detail horizontal section taken in the plane of the line III-III of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 represents a detail vertical section taken in the plane of the line IV-IV of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 represents a detail vertical section taken in the plane of the line V-V of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 represents a detail vertical section taken in the plane of the line VI-VI of Fig, l;

Fig. 7 represents a detail vertical section with means for exerting hydraulic pressure on the cylinder liner;

Fig. 8 represents in vertical central section on an enlarged scale a suitable ball check fitting for use in connection with said hydraulic means; and

Fig. 9 represents a detail plan view of the ink fountain showing a pair of dividers used as adjustable end seals for the fountain and an intermediate divider.

The ink fountain is shown as comprising the bottom member I, the front member 2, the rear member 3, the fountain roll 4 and the doctor blade 5, which doctor blade is located between the bottom and front members of the fountain with the edge of the projecting rear portion of the blade in contact with' the fountain roll. The adjusting screws 6 which are threaded into the bottom member I of the fountain press against the under side of the rear portion of the doctor blade as usual.

The fountain divider is adjustably positioned alongr the fountain with a two-point mounting thereon. This is provided for by 4a dividerbar .'I which spans the fountain. The front and rear ends of the divider bar are provided with bolts' and '9 and their clamping nuts I0 and II; the heads I2 and I3 of the bolts being slidable in undercut parallel grooves I4 and l5 extending along the tops of the front and rear members 2 and 3 of the fountain.

The fountain divider is provided with two side plates I6 and I'I and an intermediate plate I8 which may be secured together at various points by rivets I9.

The intermediate plate I8 of the divider has a vertical passage 20 which leads from the top of the plate downwardly to a suitably shaped pressure chamber 2|. The front, bottom and rear edges of the intermediate and side plates conform to and are spaced from the bottom and front walls of the yfountain and also from the exposed rear portion of the doctor blade and from adjacent surfaces of the fountain roll.

A liner 22 which may be of flexible or elastic material, or both, extends along the front, bottom and rear edges of the intermediate plate -I8 in a peripheral groove formed by the projecting edges of the side plates I6 and Il. This liner 22 closes the bottom and one side of said pressure -chamber 2| and may be initially adjusted to bring the liner into contact with the bottom and uprising walls of the fountain as well as the exposed portion of the doctor blade.

The ends of this liner 22 may be clamped to the intermediate plate I8 by bolts 23 and 24 between the shoulders 25 and 25 of the intermediate plate and the washers 21 and 28.

This intermediate plate of the divider is shown as suspended from a depending flange 29 of the divider bar l by bolts 30 which pass through vertically elongated slots 3| in said flange into threaded engagement with the intermediate plate. Two vertically disposed adjusting screws 32 and 33 are threaded in the divider bar 'I and bear against the top of the intermediate plate I8 for initial adjustment of the divider. A hole 34 passes through the bar 1 in alinemeht with the passage 20 for gaining ready access thereto- To adjust the divider along the fountain to the desired position the nuts IS and II of the bolts 8 and 9 are loosened sufficiently to permit the divider to be moved along within the fountain. The nuts I 0 and II may then be tightened to clamp the divider in such position.

The divider plates may then be adjusted vertically to a slight extent to bring theflinerpinto In Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive I have shown mechanical means for providing this additionalpressureA on the liner, said mechanical means including a lling of small balls 35 for the chamber 2| and passage 2U in the intermediate plate |8 of Ythey divider. A pressure screw 36 which is threaded into the upper end of the passage in contact with the top of the column of balls 35 in the passage 20 may be turned to cause the displacement of the balls in the chamber 2| to force the liner 22 with the desired pressure against its contacting surfaces to provide a liquid tight joint therewith. After this extra pressure has been applied the bolts 30 may be tightened. Thereafter any desired adjustment, due to the wear on the fountain roll, may be accomplished by the manipulation of the said pressure screw 36.

If desired the small air spaces between the balls 35 may be lled with a lubricant, as grease, to not only lubrlcate the balls to permit their ready displacement but, in case of leaks, to also exclude air from the chamber and passage and thereby prevent any ink reaching the chamber and passage and caking therein.

In the form shown in Figs. 7 and 8 the balls 35 and pressure screw 36 are eliminated and the passage and pressure chamber 2| llled with a suitable liquid. A ball check fitting 3T which is screwed into the upper end of the passage 20 serves to connect the chamber 2| with any suitable pressure means as for instance a pump, not shown herein. It will be seen that the spring y pressed ball 38 in the fittingV 31 will be automatically closed by the pressure of the liquid in the chamber 2| and passage 20 for retaining the pressure therein. It will also be seen that the liquid pressure against the liner 22 may be increased to the desired extent at any time by the use of the said pump.

It will also be seen that if extra pressure be desired against the fountain roll and exposed portion of the doctor blade only, the bolts 30 may be tightened before the extra pressure is'applied to the liner.

In Fig. 9 I have shown a pair of these dividers located at the ends of the fountain chamber to provide liquid tight end seals therefor, said dividers being adjustable in the fountain so that they may regulate the effective inlring width of the fountain.

vBy the term flowable mass, used in certain of the claims, I wish to be understood as including the small balls indicated in the form illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive and also the liquid filler indicated in the form illustrated in Figs. 7 and'8 of the drawings.

By the term displaceable mass used in certain of the claims, I wish to be understood asincluding a mass which can be displaced in whole or in part by suitable means for exerting pressure on the displaceable mass and thereby cause the liner to exert the desired pressure on its contacting surfaces to insure a liquid tight joint therewith.

It is evident that various changes may be resorted to in the construction, form and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence I do not intend to be limited to the particular embodiment herein shown and described, but what I claim is:

1. An ink fountain including front and rear members provided with slots along the tops of the same, a fountain divider including a divider bar laterally spanning the fountain and adjustable along the tops of said front and rear members, and clamping devices engaging the ends of the divider bar and said slots to provide a two- VVpointmounting for the divider bar on the said front and rear members of the fountain.

2. An ink fountain, an adjustable divider including a flexible liner and a flowable mass in contact therewith and means for exerting pressure on the owable mass and thereby the liner to ensure a liquid tight joint with a surface contacted by the liner.

3. An ink fountain, an adjustable fountain divider including a liner of elastic material and a owable mass in contact therewith and means for exerting pressure on the owable mass and thereby the liner to ensure a liquid tight joint with a surface contacted by the liner.

fl. An ink fountain, an adjustable fountain divider including a flexible liner and a flowable mass in contact therewith and means for exerting mechanical pressure on the flowable mass and thereby the liner to ensure a liquid tight joint with a surface contacted by the liner.

5. An ink fountain, an adjustable fountain divider including a liner of elastic material and a owable mass in contact therewith and means for exerting mechanical pressure on the owable mass and thereby the liner to ensure a liquid tight joint with a surface contacted bythe liner.

6. An ink fountain, an adjustable fountain divider including a flexible liner and means for exerting liquid pressure on the liner to ensure a liquid tight joint with a surface contacted thereby.y

' 7. An ink fountain, an adjustable fountain divider including a liner of elastic material and means for exerting liquid pressure on the liner to ensure a liquid tight joint with a surface contacted thereby. Y

8. An ink fountain, its fountain roll and doctor blade, an adjustable fountain divider including a liner in contactwith the fountain. fountain roll and doctor blade and'a displaceable mass in contact with the liner and means for exerting pressure on the displaceable mass and thereby cause the liner to exert pressure on the fountain roll to insure a liquid tight joint therewith.

l9. An Vinlr fountain, its fountain roll 'and doctor blade, an adjustable fountain divider including a liner in contact with the fountain, fountain roll and doctor blade and a displaceable mass in con- Ytact with the liner and means for exerting pres- 'and doctor blade and a displaceable mass in contact with the liner and means for exerting pressure ognithe displaceable mass and thereby cause the liner to exert pressure on the fountain, fountain 'roll and doctor blade to insure a liquid tight joint therewith.

11. An ink fountain, its fountain'roll and doctor blade, an adjustable fountain divider including a liner in contact with the fountain, fountain roll and doctor blade, said divider having a chamber and a passage leading thereto, the chamber being open to the liner, a fiowable mass in said chamber in Contact with the liner and means for applying pressure on the flowable mass in the chamber to ensure a liquid tight joint between the liner, the fountain roll and doctor blade.

12. An ink fountain, its fountain roll and doctor blade, an adjustable fountain divider including a liner in contact with the fountain, fountain roll and doctor blade, said divider having a chamber and a passage leading thereto, the chamber being open to the liner and means for applying mechanical pressure throughout the chamber to ensure a liquid tight joint between the liner, the fountain roll and doctor blade.

13. An ink fountain, its fountain roll and doctor blade, an adjustable vfountain divider including a liner in contact with the fountain, fountain roll and doctor blade, said divider having a chamber and a passage leading thereto, the chamber being open to the liner and means for applying liquid pressure in the chamber to ensure a liquid tight joint between the liner, the fountain roll and doctor blade.

14. An ink fountain, its fountain roll and doctor blade, an adjustable fountain divider including a liner in contact with the fountain, fountain roll and doctor blade, said divider having a chamber and a passage leading thereto, the chamber being open to the liner and means for applying pressure throughout the chamber to cause the liner to form a, liquid tight joint between the liner and the fountain, fountain roll and doctor blade.

15. An ink fountain, its fountain roll and doctor blade, an adjustable fountain divider including a liner in contact with the fountain, fountain roll and doctor blade, said divider having a chamber and a passage leading thereto, the chamber being open to the liner and means for applying mechanical pressure throughout the chamber to cause the liner to form a liquid tight joint between the liner and the fountain, fountain roll and doctor blade.

16. An ink fountain, its fountain roll and doctor blade, an adjustable fountain divider including a liner in contact with the fountain, fountain roll and doctor blade, said divider having a chamber and a passage leading thereto, the chamber being open to the liner and means for applying liquid pressure in the chamber to cause the liner to form a liquid tight joint between the liner and the fountain, fountain roll and doctor blade.

17. An ink fountain, its fountain roll and doctor blade, an adjustable fountain divider including a liner in contact with the fountain, fountain roll and doctor blade, said divider having a chamber and a passage leading thereto, the chamber being open along one side and bottom to the liner, balls filling the chamber and passage and means acting on said balls for exerting pressure on the liner to ensure a liquid tight joint with a surface contacted thereby.

18. An inl; fountain, its fountain roll and doctor blade, an adjustable fountain divider including a liner in contact with the fountain, fountain roll and doctor blade, said divider having a chamber and a passage leading thereto, the chamber being open along one side and bottom to the liner, balls and ,a lubricant lling the chamber and passage and means acting on said balls and lubricant for exerting pressure on the liner to ensure a liquid tight joint with a surface contacted thereby.

19. An ink fountain, its fountain roll and doctor blade, an adjustable fountain divider including a liner in contact with the fountain roll and doctor blade, said divider having a `chamber and a passage leading thereto, the chamber being open to the liner, a liquid filling for the chamber and passage and means acting on said filling for exerting pressure on the liner to ensure a liquid tight joint with a surface contacted thereby.

20. An ink fountain, its fountain roll and doctor blade and a fountain divider therefor including an adjustable divider bar, two side plates and an intermediate plate, the intermediate plate being adjustably suspended from the divider bar and having a pressure chamber and a passage leading thereto, a flowable mass in said chamber and passage, a liner extending along the front, bottom and rear edges of the intermediate plate and closing the bottom and one side of said chamber, said side plates being secured to the intermediate plate and overlapping liner, and means connected to said passage for exerting pressure on the flowable mass to ensure a liquid tight joint with a surface contacted thereby.

HANS J. LUEHRS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 236,566 Engels Jan. 11, 1881 358,473 Nuebling Mar. 1, 1887 1,699,389 Betzinger Jan. 15, 1929 1,742,787 Rupp Jan. 7, 1930 1,919,283 Troy July 25, 1933 2,301,535 Green Nov. 10, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 141,859 Germany July 13, 1903 1,108 Great Britain 1898 2,903 Great Britain 1883 4,625 Great Britain 1899 

